Government - The Presidency

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Transcript of Government - The Presidency

The Presidency

Chief of State -- ceremonial head of government; the symbol of all the peopleReigns and rulesChief Executive -- vested by the constitution with 'executive power'"the most powerful office in the world"All powerful? -- checks and balances, separation of powerSuppose you could create the "ideal" presidential candidate:Create a list of 7-10 characteristics they would have. Discuss what issues this candidate would place at the center of their campaign. Use your knowledge of the current political and economic landscape of our country to shape your response.Qualifications - what does it take to become the president?A 'natural born' -- born in the US or born to US citizensAge -- must be 35 years oldResidency -- must be a resident for at least 14 yearsThe President's TermFour year termHamilton -- Federalist #7122nd Amendment -- placed a two term limit on the presidentWashington to FDRSalary and Benefits1789 -- $25,0002012 -- $400,000Spending account -- $50,000/yearBenefits?Presidential Succession -- order by which a presidential vacancy is filledDies, resigns, or is removed from office -- VP takes overPresidential Succession Act of 1947 -- set the order of successionVice PresidentSpeaker of the HousePresident pro tem of the SenateSecretary of StateCabinet in the order in which they were createdAmendments and the President12th Amendment - deals with the Electoral College; requires separate ballots for President and Vice President20th Amendment - inauguration moved from March to January22nd - Established Term Limits23rd - allows those in DC to vote for President (# of electors as the least populous state)25th - Disability of the President -- if the president is disabled in any way, must (1) submit to Congress in writing that that the VP is in charge or (2) the VP and a majority of the cabinet inform Congress in writing that the President is incapacitatedRemoval From OfficeHouse impeaches - accuse, bring charges

Senate tries -- acts as 100 member juryChief Justice presides over the trialMembers of House prosecute the casePresident hires private lawyers in defenseTwo-thirds vote to convictPunishment following impeachmentRemoval from officeCensure (reprimand)Can forbid person from holding federal office in the futureTypes Winner take all - winner of state's primary receives all the delegates

(prohibited by democrats)Proportional - percent won -- delegate support corresponds to the candidate's share of the popular votePurpose of the National ConventionAdopt a party platform - statement of party's principles and major issuesFormally nominate the party's candidates for president and VPUnify the partyQualities that parties look for...Incumbent presidentsMost available - electable and appealingSubstantial v. well known records in public office (free from controversy, not antagonizing)Past history of elected officeGovernors from large states (past or present)SenateProtestantLarge pivotal stateWhite maleHealthy and speaking (importance of TV)Family - marriageElection DayOccurs the Tuesday following the 1st Monday of NovemberIn every state but Maine and Nebraska -- winner take all formatElectors than meet the Monday following the 2nd Wednesday in December in their state capitolIf there is a tie? -- Election thrown into the House of Reps.9. Election Day (Cont.)Each elector has two votes - president and VPBallots sealed and sent to Congress (Pres. of Senate)President of Senate opens and counts before a joint session of Congress on Jan 6.Defects in the CollegeMajor DefectsElectoral vote will contradict the popular vote - 1824, 1876, 1888Electors are not bound by the state's popular election - faithless electors (7 since 1948)Third Party - strong third party candidates can send an election to the HouseProposed ReformsDistrict Plan - elector for each district; electors chosen like members of CongressProportional Plan - candidates would receive the same share of states electoral votes as popular votesEliminates faithless electorDoes not eliminate contradiction of popular vote v. electoral collegeDirect Popular ElectionNeeds constitutional amendmentIncreases third party cloutSmall states lose advantage Burden election process (candidates would have to campaign in every state)Ballot - box stuffing (voter fraud)Minorities lose powerThe National Popular Vote PlanStates amend election laws to provide that all of the state's electoral votes be awarded to the winner of national popular vote102 electoral votes awarded to popular vote winnerIII. Powers of the Pres and VPThe President executes all federal lawTo the fullestextend and to the extent they choose - signing statementsPowers of the VPPreside over the SenateHelp decide presidential disabilityDuties of the VPTakes part in cabinet meetingmember of the national security councilMay advise the preident Balances the ticketchair - National Aeronautics and Space CouncilRepresents US in absence of the president3. Powers of the PresidentA. ExecutiveExecutive OrdersAppointments - ambassadors, cabinet, agency head, judges, officersThe power of removalB. DiplomaticPower to make treatiesExecutive AgreementRecognitionC. MilitaryCommander in ChiefMaking Undeclared WarWar Power Resolution - benefits and flaws of a powerful executiveCINCINNATUSD. LegislativeRecommending legislationThe Veto PowerLine Item VetoE. JudicialReprieve, Pardon, ClemencyCommutationAmnestyChief Administrator -- the director of the executive branch2.7 million civilian employeesBudget of $2.5 trillionChief diplomat -- main architect of American foreign policySpokesperson of the nationRoles of the President (8)Commander in Chief -- civilian leader of the armed forces; entire military arsenal under his controlFootballChief legislator -- main architect of the US' policySets the overall shape of the congressional agendaConstitutional Powers (6)Chief of Party -- acknowledged leader of the political party (D/R)Chief citizen -- the representative of all the peopleRepresents the public interestNon-Constitutional Roles (2)The Vice Presidency"I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything."Two formal duties :To preside over the Senate (president)Help decide the question of presidential disability"President in waiting"Purpose of choosing the Vice PresidentBalance the ticket -- strengthen the President's chance to being electedJoe Biden -- experience; foreign policyPaul Ryan -- budget; spending cutsThe Road to the PresidencyStep 1 -- state primariesNothing in Constitution regarding how to nominate a presidentDevelopment of presidential primaries -- an election in which a party's voters choose some or all of the party organization's delegates to the national conventionNew Hampshire -- has the first every 4 yearsTwo problems:Each state varies in how they select delegatesDemocratic Party has been constantly reforming their selection processCaucus -- a meeting of party members/supportersA few states hold caucuses Iowa's gets the most attention -- they are the first delegate-selection event every 4 yearsPrecinct -- district -- state -- nationalStep 2 -- National ConventionNumber of delegates up for grabs:Republicans -- 2,470 (2014 figure)Democrats -- 4,498 (2012 figure)Republicans -- leave selection process to each stateDemocrats -- adopted several national rules for the processNational Conventions -- meetings at which the delegates vote to pick their presidential and VP candidatesUsed to be very dramatic, full of debateNow -- little doubt as to who will win; most candidates lock up nomination before conventionThree Goals:Naming president and VP candidatesBringing the party togetherAdopting the party's platformConventions -- Four DaysFirst Two Days 1 -- welcoming delegates, organizing conventions, speeches2 -- adoption of party platform, keynote address Last Two Days 3 -- Nomination of the party's candidatesRatify the candidate's choiceVP delivers acceptance speech4 -- presidential candidate ratifiedDelivers speech and launches general election campaignStep 3 -- The General ElectionSplit into groups and complete the handout provided. Use internet research and the URL provided to answer the questions.Each individual needs to complete the worksheetEach one of you has been assigned a presidential election. Prepare a short Keynote presentation on the following:Who ran in the election -- name, party, office held, state of origin of eachKey issues in the election (i.e. 2012 -- economy)Analysis of the electoral college for your election; who won what states, any trends that you seeInteresting facts about the election -- what can we learn about the electoral college from this election?Pros/Cons of Electoral CollegePros:Requires a distribution of popular support -- contributes national unityEnhancement/protection of minority interests -- small minorities can make a difference in a given stateEncourages a two party system -- national stability Maintains a federal system - states have a roleWho favors it:Smaller/less populous statesTwo major partiesMinoritiesCons:Concentration of campaigning in contested statesIgnoring uncontested statesRisk of electing candidate that did not win popular voteCons:Risk of faithless electorDecreasing voter turnoutWill not accurately reflect people's choice due to winner take all systemWho opposes it:More populous states (not the largest)Third partiesMany Americans following 2000 electionThe Presidency -- EvolutionAndrew Jackson -- used the presidential veto differently than previous presidentsVetoed bills that he viewed unconstitutional as well as ones that he did not likeAbraham Lincoln -- contributed to the growth of the officeDuring the Civil War -- used unprecedented presidential powerSuspended writ of habeas corpusNationalized militiaExpanded size of army/navyTeddy Roosevelt -- 'bully pulpit'Used the presidency to influence public opinionMost influential in the 20th centuryUsed Great Depression and WWII to consolidate presidential powerThe New Deal -- Social Security, employment reforms, and reform of executive agenciesWWII -- established US in international arena